Ellen Pompeo Dishes on Hollywood’s Brutal Weight Critique
In a candid chat with People, Grey’s Anatomy legend Ellen Pompeo opened the floodgates on the relentless scrutiny she faced regarding her weight throughout her illustrious career in Tinseltown. The 55-year-old star recounted a time when being skinny was the norm, but it came with a hefty price—mental health struggles and a torrent of tabloid criticism. “I was so skinny and I hated it,” Pompeo lamented, highlighting the insane pressure to fit into a mold that society idolizes. In her own way, she’s grateful for the shift in cultural norms regarding body commentary, stating, “Girls today can be gorgeous and thin and thank God we’re not allowed to comment on women’s bodies,” though she admitted that some folks still do.
Pompeo’s remarks echo a broader trend in Hollywood, where women often face a disproportionate amount of pressure to maintain certain body standards—a reality that fellow celebs like Demi Lovato have also battled. Lovato has been vocal about her struggles with body image and the obsessive comparison game that social media promotes. As she put it, “It’s a journey expected of us, and we shouldn’t shy away from that.”
Reflecting on her lengthy career—spanning over two decades as Dr. Meredith Grey—Pompeo noted that she has grown substantially resilient against the often brutal media landscape. “I just remember being so anxious on red carpets,” she recalled, signaling a monumental shift in how conversations around women’s bodies have evolved. Today, she’s focusing on expanding her repertoire beyond the Shonda Rhimes classic, preparing for her new role as Natalia Grace’s adopted mom in Hulu’s upcoming series, Good American Family.
As she points out, change is happening, albeit slowly. The actress is excited about this new chapter. “I gotta mix it up a little bit,” she remarked last year on The Drew Barrymore Show, emphasizing the importance of growth and new challenges in life. And let’s be real, she’s not alone in grappling with these themes. Stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and even the famous Kardashian-Jenners are increasingly vocal about these pressures.
All in all, Pompeo’s story serves as a wake-up call about our cultural obsession with body image. She notes that seeing “regular bodies” isn’t just refreshing but necessary. So perhaps it’s time to toss aside the critical lens and celebrate diversity in body types—after all, everyone has a journey, and it’s about time we started honoring them.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and People Magazine, Insiders, Elle, The New York Times
